Porous blanket humidifier



P 1964 R. w. WEATHERSTON ETAL 3,151,183

POROUS BLANKET HUMIDIF'IER Filed Dec. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ,za 12 42 FF/CHARD W Wmmmsrou 5. 1 x 1? 5. MARSH LL BY L a n fi oRNEY P 1964 R. w. WEATHERSTON ETAL 3,151,188

POROUS BLANKET HUMIDIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 INV EN TOR A ORNEY Z6 fPlc/m R0 W Winn/2310; 650966 5. MARSHALL BY 2% EM W United States Patent 3,151,188 PORUUS BLANKET HUMIDIFIER Richard W. Weatherston and George S. Marshall, St. Paul, Minn, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Fram Corporation, Providence, Rib, a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,362 7 Claims. (Cl. 261-29) This invention relates to an improvement in a porous blanket humidifier and deals particularly with a simple and effective apparatus for use in increasing the humidity of the air in a house or other building. 111 our previous application, Serial No. 108,631, filed May 8, 1961, for Humidifier, of which the present application is a continuation in part, we disclosed an apparatus for increasing the moisture content of the air. While this previous device functioned very effectively for its intended purpose, continued use of the devices indicated that certain improvements might be desirable. For example, the fan chamber at the upper end of the enclosure was in direct communication with the interior of the humidifying chamber, permitting a certain amount of recirculation of air within the interior of the housing. As a result, the efficiency of the apparatus was diminished to some extent as the recirculated air did not pass through the humidifying blanket and into the outer atmosphere.

Secondly, air which was thrown outwardly at the top of the water lifting cone was directed toward a slotted ring which broke up the water to form a mist. This ring also tended to assist in removing minerals and foreign materials such as dirt from the Water and these foreign materials were collected by the excess water on the perforated ring and dropped downwardly into the water reservoir. As a result, while foreign material was removed from the water, it was deposited into the tank and recirculated until it formed a deposit in the bottom of the reservoir or Water tank. As a result, it was necessary to clean out the reservoir from time to time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a humidifying apparatus of the same general type as illustrated in our above described application but which does not have the disadvantages through experience to exist in the previous construction.

In the present structure, means is provided to materially reduce the circulation of air within the humidifying compartment, and means are also provided'to permit the draining off of dirt and minerals collected on the breaker ring so that they will not be deposited in the reservoir and will not be recirculated.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a humidifier including a reservoir within which is supported a humidifying chamber including a funnel shaped cone which is rotated by a suitable motor about a vertical axis. A fan is provided at the top of the chamher, and a flexible diaphragm is provided between the fan motor and the revolving cone which separates the housing into a fan chamber and a humidifying chamber. This diaphragm is flexed downwardly by operation of the fan to permit the air to flow downwardly into the humidifying chamber which is surrounded with a porous blanket. The porous blanket is maintained in a moistened condition by water thrown outwardly by the top of the revolving cone and passing through the breaker ring. As a result, the air within the fan chamber may be maintained at a slightly higher pressure than within the humidifying chamber, limiting the recirculation of air and increasing the efficiency of the device.

A feature of this portion of the apparatus resides in the provision of a diaphragm comprising a pair of superimposed disks of thin sheet plastic or other suitable water 3,151,183 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 impervious material including a series of angularly spaced notches about their peripheries and arranged with the notches of the upper disk positioned out of registry with the notches of the lower disk. The disks are sufficiently resilient and flexible to flex downwardly, the air passing through the notches in the upper disk acting upon the upper surface of the lower disk so as to flex the lower disk to a greater extent than the upper. This action tends to urge the air outwardly toward the outer wall of the humidifying chamber, and also acts to change the direction of flow of the air as it passes through the diaphragm, minimizing the recirculation of air within the humidifying chamber and acting to build up the pressure necessary to force the air through the moist blanket.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a gutter or trough underlying a portion of the breaker ring and permitting a portion of the water collecting on the ring to flow through a drain tube leading from the humidifier. This structure causes a constant drainage of a small percentage of the liquid employed at all times when the humidifier is in use. This water collected and drained contains minerals separated from the water and impurities such as dirt, and as a result a portion of the water having the highest content of impurities is being constantly drained away.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a water bleed line of the type described which includes in part a small diameter drain tube having a vent opening near its upper end. This vent opening permits a small amount of air to enter the drain tube with the water being drained oif and prevents the water from filling the tube and failing to drain properly.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification;

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus, showing the general arrangement of parts therein.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the breaker ring and deconcentrator arrangement which is detachably mounted within the humidifying chamber.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the apparatus, the position of the section being indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of one of the diaphragm disks, illustrating the general form of construction thereof.

In general, the apparatus includes a water reservoir comprising an open top tray or receptacle, and the humidifying element 11 which merely rests within the tray 10, and is removable therefrom to permit the cleaning of the tray. The humidifying element supports a float valve which is not illustrated in the drawings, but which may be somewhat similar to that shown in our previous application. The float valve merely serves to maintain a predetermined liquid level within the tray 10 at all times, and the inlet to the valve is normally connected by a flexible tube to a suitable source of water supply.

The reservoir 19 normally comprises merely a tray formed of a bottom panel 12 and upwardly extending connected side walls 13 which may be rectangular, circular, or otherwise shaped. The tray 10 is peripherally formed of fibre glass or other durable material which may be readily cleaned.

The humidifier unit includes a frame 14 including a series of superimposed wire hoops 15 which are held in vertically spaced relation by means of a series of parallel vertical wire rods 16 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to the hoops 15. Four such rods 17 which are spaced ninety degrees apart between the rods 16 extend somewhat below the lowermost hoop 15 to form legs 19 have right angularly turned ends 20 thereupon to form supports for the frame. The angularly turned leg ends 29 are preferably encircled by resilient sleeves 21 to cushion the frame. The rods 16 are provided with outturned lower ends 22 which are terminally secured to a bottom ring or hoop 23 which is of larger diameter than the hoops and which serve a purpose which will be later described.

As is perhaps best indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the vertical frame rods 17 as well as the frame rods 16 are provided with right angularly turned ends 24 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to a pair of concentric hoops or rings 25 and 26, the hoop 25 being of greater diameter. Certain diametrically opposed vertical rods 16 are provided with inturned ends 24 which extend inwardly beyond the smaller diameter ring 26, and terminate in loops 27. A motor 29 is provided with vertical apertures designed to accommodate attachment bolts 3%) provided with nuts 31 beneath the motor enclosure. The bolts 36) extend through the loops 27, and resilient washers 32 encircle the bolts between the loops 27 and the nuts 31. to cushion the support of the motor. The bolts 30 also act as a support for the diaphragm which will be later described.

The motor 29 is provided with an axial downwardly projecting shaft 33 upon which is mounted a hub 34supporting a spider 35 connecting the hub with a peripheral ring 36. A funnel shaped cone 37 is secured to the ring 36 by rivets 39 or other suitable means, and the lower end of the cone is provided with a slightly tapered extension 40 terminating in a bottom closure plate 41 having a central aperture 42 therein. The inner surface of the slightly tapered portion 40 is provided with inwardly extending vanes 43 in preferred form.

The motor 29 is provided with an upwardly projecting axial shaft 44 which is rotatable with the shaft 33 and which acts to support the hub 45 of a fan 46 having angularly spaced blades 47. The motor 29 is encircled by an imperforate shell 49 which is secured to the upper extremities of the vertical rods 16 and 17 and extends up-' wardly therefrom. An inwardly projecting rib or flange 50 is provided on the shell 49 closely adjacent to the perip hery of the fan blades 47 so as to limit the escape of air. A grommet 51 extends through the wall of the enclosure 49 and the motor cord 52 which is designed to connect the motor 29 with a suitable source of current extends through the grommet 51 mounted in this hole which may be designated as 52.

A sleevelike blanket 53 of urethane foam having a relatively coarse pore structure encirclesthe frame 14 and extends over the lower extremity of the imperforate enclosure 49. This blanket 53 is limited in its downward movement by the ring 23 which is spaced above the horizontally extending portion 20 of the legs 19. Thus the water is free to flow below the lower edge of the blanket 53, and the water level is maintained above the lower edge of the blanket 53 by a suitable float valve supported by a bracket 54 mounted between two of the vertical rods of the frame 14, but not illustrated in the drawings, as the end of the float valve extends'forwardly of the plane of the section in .FIGURE 1 and as the use ofsuch float valves to maintain the proper water level in the reservoir is well known in the art.

A sleeve 55 of urethane foam having a relatively fine pore structure encircles the portion of the blanket 53 encircling the upper end of the cone 37, the upper edge of the sleeve 55 being substantially on the plane of the lower end of the imperforate enclosure 49. The sleeve 55 limits the flow of moisture through the upper portion of the blanket 53 and acts to contain excess moisture which is directed against the upper portion of the blanket, permitting the moisture to drain downwardly through the blanket to be picked up by the air. flowing through the blanket.

A diaphragm is supported immediately beneath the rings 25 and 26 and serves as a partial partition between the lower portion of the humidifier body which forms a humidifying chamber, and the upper portion of the body within the imperforate sleeve 49 which forms a fan shape. The diaphragm includes a pair of circular disks of sheet plastic or similar material, the upper disk being designated by the numeral 59 and the lower disk being indicated by the numeral 60. As is indicated in the drawings, the disks 59 and 6t) are circular in form having a central aperture 61 extending therethrough to accommodate the motor shaft 33, and having V-shaped notches 62 in their periphery forming a series of individually flexible flaps or tabs 63. The notches 62 are peripherally directed with the apex in the center of the notch on radial lines from the axis of the disks. The disks 59 and are provided with apertures 64 therethrough which are designed to accommodate the motor mounting bolts 30. The disks 59 and 69 are identical except for the position of the apertures 64, the disks being arranged so that the notches 62 of one disk 59 are centrally located between the notches 62 of the other disk 60. When the disks are in face contact, they combine to form a completely circular baffle. However, when one disk is flexed relative to the other, the air from the fan may move in a tortuous path through the notches of the upper disk and through the notches of the lower disk.

' As is indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a reinforcing disk 65 which is of approximately the same diameter as the distance between the apexes of the notches 62 on opposite sides of the disk underlies the disk 59 and 6t) and the motor mounting bolts 30 also extend through the reinforcing disk 65. Spacing washers 66 extend between the loops 27 and the upper surfaces of the disks 59 and 60 and include reduced diameter end portions 67 which extend through the three disks. Attachment nuts 69 are provided on the lower ends of the bolts 30 to clamp the motor in place and also to support the diaphragm in its proper position.

A breaker ring 70 which is perhaps best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, encircles the upper periphery of the cone 37, the vertical center of the ring 70 being substantially on theplane of the top of the cone 37. The

upper edge of the ring 70 is preferably reinforced by a circular reinforcing ring 71 and the upper edge of the ring is flanged outwardly to overlie this reinforcing ring 71 as indicated at 72. The lower half of the axially vertical ring 70 is provided with angularly spaced slots 73 through which the water which is flung outwardly from the cone 37 may pass. The slots 73 break up the stream of water into finely divided form so that the upper portion of the blanket 53 is not struck with a continuous stream of water.

The ring 70 is supported by a series of angularly spaced supports 74 which include generally radially extending portions 75, and generally parallel portions 76 which extend generally parallel to the axis of the ring. The supporting arms 74 are provided with inwardly offset por tions 77 near their lower ends which are designed to accommodate one of the rings 15 as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

By drawing the ends 76 of the arms 74 inwardly, the ring 70 may be withdrawn from the frame 14. The ring 70'may be reinserted by merely forcing the ring upwardly toward the upper end of the frame until the offset portions 70 encircle the uppermost hoop or ring 15.

An arcuate inclined trough 79 is secured at one end 80 to the undersurface of the ring 70, the trough 79 being pinched together at the end 80 and spot welded to the ring; The trough follows the curvature of the ring 70, and is formed together at its lower end 81 to accommodate a drain pipe 82. The trough 79 inclines downwardly from its point of attachment to the ring 70, and the water therein is conducted to the tube 82. As is indicated in dotted outline of FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the end of the tube 82 is connected to a flexible hose 83 extending downwardly beneath the frame 14 and over the edge of the reservoir 10. The tube 83 is shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 1, in view'of the fact that in the particular section shown, the tube 83 would not appear. A vent opening 84 is provided in the upper surface of the tube 82 near the end of this tube so that air may be drawn into the tube with the water being drained, and to prevent an air lock in the tube.

The operation of the apparatus is believed clear from the foregoing description. Water is placed in the reservoir or pan through the filling pipe which is not illustrated and is maintained at a proper level by the float which also is not illustrated. When current is supplied to the motor 29, the fan 46 as well as the cone 37 are rotated in unison. Rotation of the cone 37 causes the water to rise by centrifugal force in the cone, and to be slung outwardly at the top of the cone against the breaker ring 70. This ring breaks up the water into a mist, and the water passing through the ring is flung against the blanket 53. The sleeve 55 which is of less porous plastic than the blanket 53 assists in picking up the excess mois ture, and allowing the moisture to seep downwardly through the blanket.

The air is forced downwardly through the open upper end of the sleeve 49 and passed the diaphragm, acting to spread the two disks 59 and 6t) apart so that the air can flow into the humidifying chamber. A certain amount of the air may also flow about the periphery of the diaphragm, but the air passing through the diaphragm, is deflected laterally and causes a counterflow of air which tends to prevent the recirculation of air through the chamber. As a result, the air being blown through the diaphragm tends to build up a pressure sufficient to force the air uniformly through the blanket. As the air passes through the blanket, it picks up the moisture and carries it into the surrounding atmosphere.

Certain of the water is deposited upon the breaker ring 70, and a part of this moisture continually drains into the trough 79 and is allowed to drain off, carrying the dirt and minerals contained within the water. As a result, the concentration of dirt and minerals in the water is maintained at a low point due to the fact that a certain part of the impurities are at all times being drained off. As a result, only a small fraction of the sediment which would normally collect in the reservoir is deposited there.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principles of construction and operation of our improvement in a Porous Blanket Humidifier, and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A humidifier including a vertical foraminous frame, a water reservoir underlying said frame, means supporting said frame in said water reservoir to extend upwardly therefrom, a motor, motor mounting means mounting said motor on the upper portion of said frame, said motor including a vertical shaft having portions extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom, an imperforate funnel-shaped hollow cone secured to the downwardly projecting portion of said shaft and having its upper end open and having its small diameter end extending into said water reservoir, a blanket of foam plastic of a porous nature encircling said frame and adapted to be moistened by liquid directed outwardly from the large diameter end of said cone upon rotation thereof, a perforated breaker ring encircling the upper end of said cone in the path of liquid thrown outwardly therefrom, fan means secured to the portion of said motor shaft projecting upwardly from said motor for directing air downwardly and through said blanket, a series of angularly spaced arm means on said breaker ring releasably engageable in said frame, and an imperforate shell secured to said frame and extending upwardly therefrom and substantially coextensive therewith providing a shroud encircling said fan means.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a flexible deflector means between said motor and the upper end of said cone and located adjoining the upper end of said frame and the lower end of said shell to deflect air flowing downwardly from said fan means in a generally horizontal direction.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including a drain trough underlying a portion of said breaker ring and adapted to receive water draining from said ring, and a drain tube connecting said trough to a drain.

4. A humidifier including a vertical foraminous frame, a water reservoir underlying said frame, means supporting said frame in said water reservoir to extend upwardly therefrom, a motor, motor mounting means mounting said motor on the upper portion of said frame, said motor having a shaft including portions extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom, a funnel shaped imperforate hollow cone secured to the downwardly extending portion of said shaft and having its small diameter end extending into said water reservoir, a blanket of foam plastic of a porous nature encircling said frame and adapted to be moistened by liquid directly outwardly from the large diameter end of said cone upon rotation thereof, a perforated breaker ring supported by said frame and encircling the upper end of said cone in the path of liquid thrown outwardly therefrom, a fan means secured to the upwardly extending portion of said shaft for directing air downwardly and through said blanket, an imperforate shell secured to said frame and extending upwardly there from and substantially coextensive therewith providing a shroud encircling said motor and fan means, a diaphragm means secured to said frame adjacent to the upper end thereof and adjacent to the lower end of said shell separating the space within said frame and shell into a fan and motor chamber and a humidifying chamber, said diaphragm means including a pair of discs of slightly less dimensions than said frame and shell and spaced therefrom about its periphery, said discs having openings therethrough near the periphery thereof, the openings in one disc being offset from the openings through the other disc to cause air being forced downwardly by said fan means to be directed generally laterally between said discs.

5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said openings comprise notches in the periphery of the discs.

6. The structure of claim 4 and including a reinforcing disc of smaller diameter than said flexible resilient discs in face contact with, and concentric with, one of said flexible resilient discs.

7. A humidifier including a vertical foraminous frame, a water reservoir underlying said frame, means supporting said frame in said water reservoir to extend upwardly therefrom, a motor, motor mounting means mounting said motor on the upper portion of said frame, said motor having a motor shaft having portions extending upwardly and downwardly from said motor, an imperforate funnelshaped hollow cone secured to the downwardly extending portion of said shaft having an open upper end and having its small diameter end extending into said water reservoir, a blanket of foam plastic of a porous nature encircling said frame and adapted to be moistened by liquid directed outwardly from the large diameter end of said cone upon rotation thereof, a perforated breaker ring secured to said frame encircling the upper end of said cone, in the path of liquid thrown outwardly therefrom, a fan means secured to the upwardly extending portion of said motor shaft above said cone for directing air downwardly and through said blanket, a downwardly inclined trough secured at one end to said breaker ring and underlying only a portion of the same, and a drain tube secured to the other end of said trough to receive liquid therefrom, said drain tube connecting said trough to a drain outside the reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Andrews Mar. 18, 1924 Mills Oct. 26, 1926 5 Ashley Oct. 18, 1932 Sherwood Apr. 17, 1934 Felderman May 7, 1946 Barr July 3, 1956 3 Eranosian Nov. 20, 1956 Flury Feb. 24, 1959 Bell July 11, 1961 Randolph Nov. 28, 1961 Ortgies et a1. Nov. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 4, 1937 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1952 

1. A HUMIDIFIER INCLUDING A VERTICAL FORAMINOUS FRAME, A WATER RESERVOIR UNDERLYING SAID FRAME, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME IN SAID WATER RESERVOIR TO EXTEND UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A MOTOR, MOTOR MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID MOTOR ON THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FRAME, SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A VERTICAL SHAFT HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, AN IMPERFORATE FUNNEL-SHAPED HOLLOW CONE SECURED TO THE DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID SHAFT AND HAVING ITS UPPER END OPEN AND HAVING ITS SMALL DIAMETER END EXTENDING INTO SAID WATER RESERVOIR, A BLANKET OF FOAM PLASTIC OF A POROUS NATURE ENCIRCLING SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO BE MOISTENED BY LIQUID DIRECTED OUTWARDLY FROM THE LARGE DIAMETER END OF SAID CONE UPON ROTATION THEREOF, A PERFORATED BREAKER 